Flashlight charger and rechargeable battery

ABSTRACT

A recharger device for the battery includes a device with a first slot for a first device, such as a flashlight for recharging. A second slot in relationship to the first slot is provided for receiving a second device for recharging. Locking means with each slot such is moveable to permit release one or other device after moving the locking member between a closed position to an open position. The flashlight includes a battery pack to act as a closure of an opening to a battery housing. The closure is in the tailpiece and is mounted in the battery housing. The closure is connected integral with a rechargeable battery such that when the batteries are located in position in the battery housing the battery housing is closed.

This is a division of Application No. 09/565,934, filed May 5, 2000, nowU.S. Pat. No. 6,350,040.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a flashlight, a charger and a rechargeablebattery pack.

Many flashlights, chargers and rechargeable battery packs are known.Different configurations and arrangements of these devices exist.

Some of these devices, for instance, chargers, have differentrequirements for different uses, for example, recharging other devices.For instance in the safety area, for example, in fire fighting,flashlights need to be particularly rugged in their construction andalso be capable of remaining charged for long periods of time. They needto be available for emergency use and to be operable for long periods oftime under tough conditions. Chargers also should be capable of a novelfunction acting in a positive manner with the devices for recharging,and rechargeable battery packs used to be streamlined to operateeffectively with the device using the batteries and with the recharger.

This invention is directed to providing a flashlight, a charging systemand a rechargeable battery pack which overcomes disadvantages ofexisting devices and systems and provides novel characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention a recharger device for the battery includes adevice with a first slot for a first device, such as a flashlight forrecharging. A second slot in relationship to the first slot is providedfor receiving a second device for recharging. There are electrical meansfor connecting the contacts to a recharging current to flow through thecontacts to the two devices being recharged.

Preferably there are locking means associated with each slot such thatthe locking member is moveable to permit release one or other deviceafter moving the locking member between a closed position to an openposition.

The flashlight, for use preferably with the recharging means described,includes a battery pack to act as a closure of an opening to a batteryhousing. The closure is in the tailpiece of the flashlight and ismounted in the battery housing for the flashlight. The closure isconnected integrally with a rechargeable battery pack. When thebatteries are located in position in the battery housing the batteryhousing is closed.

There is also an aperture in the battery housing. The aperture is forreceiving a button element corrected with the battery pack or anextension to the battery pack. The button element is spring loaded suchthat when the battery pack is correctly located in the battery housing,the button element fits in the aperture and locks the battery pack inposition in the battery housing.

The rechargeable battery pack including batteries in relativeside-by-side relationship. An extension from the battery permits thebatteries to be connected in the battery housing in an operative manner.There are contact means for the batteries of the battery pack whichpermits the recharging of the batteries by a recharger.

The button element is preferably mounted on the extension. This permitsthe release of the battery pack from the battery housing. Also on theextension there are electrical contacts and circuits for connecting aflash bulb of the flashlight electrically to the battery pack.

The invention is now described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings which are only illustrative of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a flashlight in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a flashlight in accordance withthe invention.

FIG. 3 is a different frontal perspective view of a flashlight inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the flashlight in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 5 is side view of a flashlight in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the flashlight in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a flashlight in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a flashlight in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 9 is a side perspective view along line B—B of the flashlight inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view along line F—F of a flashlight in accordancewith the invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view along line D—D of a flashlight in accordancewith the invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view along line E—E of a flashlight in accordancewith the invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a recharger with a first rechargingdevice being a flashlight and a second recharging device being a batterypack.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a recharging device.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a recharging device.

FIG. 16 is an underview of the recharging device.

FIG. 17 is a front view of a recharging device.

FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of a flashlight and a rechargeablebattery pack in a recharger device.

FIG. 19 is a side view of a recharger device with a flashlight in frontand a rechargeable battery pack at the back.

FIG. 20 is a top view of two recharges in an adjacent relationship withflashlight in the front slot of each of the recharging devices.

FIG. 21 is a front view of two recharges with flashlight in position.

FIG. 22 is a side view of a recharger with a flashlight in the frontslot and a rechargeable battery in the second slot.

FIG. 23 is a view of a recharger in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 24 is an exploded view of components for attachment to therechargeable battery pack.

FIG. 25 is an assembled view of components for attachment to therechargeable battery pack.

FIG. 26 is a top view of the extension components for attachment to therechargeable battery pack.

FIG. 27 is a side view of the extension components for attachment to therechargeable battery pack.

FIG. 28 is a front view of the extension member for attachment to therechargeable battery pack.

FIG. 29 is a bottom view of the extension member.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the rechargeable battery pack.

FIG. 31 is a front view of the rechargeable battery pack.

FIG. 32 is a side view of the rechargeable battery pack.

FIG. 33 is a top view of the rechargeable battery pack.

FIG. 34 is a front view of the rechargeable battery pack.

FIG. 35 is a bottom view of the rechargeable battery pack.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the latch for use with the batteryextension assembly in the battery casing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1 there is shown a right angular flashlight. There is a batterycasing 10 connected with a right angular housing 11 in which is mounteda lens assembly. This right angular flashlight is further illustrated inseveral of the other figures. There is a lens 12 and a lens shroud 13.Behind the lens shroud 12, as shown in FIG. 3, there is a lamp or bulb14 which is mounted with a reflector 15.

In the exploded view of FIG. 3 there is also shown a boot actuator 16which fits in the aperture 17 in the rear face of the battery casing 10.On the side wall of the casing 10 there is a boot actuator 18. The bootactuator 18 is for switching the flashlight on and off in a conventionaloperative manner. The switch boot is pushed in under finger pressure andforced out under spring pressure relative to an aperture in the side ofthe casing 10. On the rear wall of the battery casing 10 there is a clip19 which is mounted with two screw keepers on latches 20 to secure theclip 19 to the rear of the casing 10.

The clip 19 facilitates use by a user such as clipping the flashlightonto clothing. There is a split ring 21 which is affixed to theconfiguration so that the rear of the flashlight can be effectivelysuspended from a support as required.

There is also a bracket extension assembly 22 which operates togetherwith a rechargeable battery pack 23. The battery pack 23 includes a pairof batteries 24 and 25 in side-by-side relationship mounted in a casingor holder 26. The base 27 of the holder 26 forms part of the base of thebattery casing 10. For suitable configurations contacts extends throughthe base 27 to permit for recharging of the batteries 24 and 25 of therechargeable battery pack 23 as described below. As such, the base 27would be located adjacent to the foot or tail cap 28 of the batterycasing 10. The front of the battery casing 10 is fitted with a labelelement 29 which can be metallic or a plastic transfer suitably put inposition. The battery casing 10 also has two rubberized grips around theharder steel for the casing 10. The grips are adhere to the casing. Thegrips are two separable grip sleeves located at opposite sides of thebattery housing.

As shown in FIGS. 13, 33 and other figures there is a recharger assemblywhich includes a housing 100 which is a relatively trapezoidal shapewhen viewed from the side. There is a front top face 101 with a firstslot 102 in the front and a rear slot 103 in the back. The slot 102 isfor receiving, for example, a flashlight as illustrated. This flashlightwould include the battery casing 10 which would fit in the slot 102. Therear slot 103 is for receiving a rechargeable battery pack 23 withoutthe flashlight.

The recharger includes a base 104 which is substantially rectangular inconfiguration with slightly cutoff corners. The base 104 fits within theperimeter defined by the outside of the housing. Mounted on the basethere are two wall-like structure 105 and 106 which in part define theperimeter of each of the respective slots 102 and 103. There is also avertical wall configuration 107 which is located between the two slotsand under which there are two longitudinal supporting members or bars108 and 109. At the end of each of these horizontal bars 108 and 109there is mounted a helical spring 110 for constituting the contact withthe base of respectively the flashlight and rechargeable battery pack.There are indicator lights 111 which fit within the apertures 112 in thetop face 101 of the housing.

On the front wall of the housing there is a label 113 to the charger.There are also two locking levers 114 and 115, respectively. Lever 114is to operate as the locking lever for the first slot and lever 115 isto operate the locking lever for the second slot 103. This permits theflashlight to be locked and released from the slot 102 and the batterypack in slot 103 to be locked and released from that respective slot.Each of these respective levers 114 and 115 has a respective cap likeelement 114 a and 115 a respectively.

The locking levers 114 and 115 are respectively biased with springmembers 310 and 311. Each of these spring members urge the respectivelocking members 114 and 115 into a position where the tip ends 303 and304, respectively are urged towards the respective open slots 102 and103. The tip ends 303 and 304 of the levers, respectively, are anchoredwith the slot 305 in the battery casing 10 of the flashlight, and theslot 306 in the case of the battery pack 300. Each of the slots 305 and306, respectively, run transversely across the battery casing 10 and thebattery pack 300. This causes the flashlight to be locked in position ina slot 102, and the battery holder to be locked in a position in thesecond slot 103 of the recharger. The operation of each with the levers114 and 115 is effected by manual pressure on the caps 114 a and 115 a,respectively. The manual pressure is in the direction pushing the levers114 and 115 towards the rear of the recharger. This levering actionforces the ends 303 and 304 forwardly, respectively and the flashlightand the battery housing can be removed from the recharger. Therespective weights of the flashlight and the rechargeable batteriesrespectively make contact with the spring contacts 110 in the base ofthe recharger. The springs 110 make contact with the feet 205 in theflashlight. The springs 301 and 302 in the battery pack 300 make contactwith springs 110. When used in the recharger the battery pack 300 isturned upside down relative to its position in the battery casing 10.

As illustrated in FIGS. 24 through 29 and other figures, there aredetails of the bracket for holding the rechargeable battery pack. Theextension bracket 22 is located above the battery pack 23. This bracketincludes a pair of helical springs 200 mounted below the bracket 22 andwhich are for engagement with eyelets 201, which hold the springsrelatively in position on the base of the bracket 22. Eyelets 202likewise facilitate the location of the springs in position on the baseof the extension bracket 22.

There is a latch 117 which operates with the boot 16 to release thebattery pack. There are two charger contacts 204 which extend from thebase of the bracket downward to the base of the charger 23, and eachcontact strip 204 ends in contact feet 255. Each one of these contacts204 is operable with the respective batteries 24 and 25.

The top of the bracket is shown in FIG. 26 and the underneath of thebracket is illustrated in FIG. 29.

Inside the battery casing 10 there is a battery pack 300. At the top 320of the pack 300 there are slots 321 and 322 respectively. These slotsare for receiving, respectively, the contact springs 200 at the base ofthe bracket 22. This permits the continuous contact to be made betweenthe battery pack and the battery extension through the switch operableby switch button 18 to the bulb 14.

The battery pack 23 can be moved in and out of the battery casing byoperating the latch 117 which fits into the aperture 17. An actuator 16fits around the stem 324 which protrudes from the aperture 17 and iscovered by the boot actuator 16. The top face 325 with a rail 326defines the slot 327 which rides in a slot 328 in the bracket extension22. The latch element is spring-loaded such that when the battery packis correctly located in the battery housing, the element fits in anaperture.

Each of the batteries 24 and 25 is contained in a battery pack 300 asshown in FIG. 30 and other figures. The base of the battery pack mounts,respectively, a spring 301 and 302 with the respective batteries 24 and25. The buttons are located between the springs 301 and 302 and the top303 of the pack 300. The base of the contacts 204, respectively, havefeet 205. Each of the feet protrude from the base or tail of the batterycasing 10 and the ends are upturned so that the feet 205 essentiallygrip the wall of the battery casing 10. The feet 205 make contact withthe respective contact springs 110 in the front slot 102 of therecharger. The top of each of the batteries 24 and 25 makes contact withthe springs 200 at the top of the battery pack 300 for the batteries. Inthis manner the battery pack 300 is located with the extendable member22 in a conductive manner and can be suitably located in the flashlightcasing.

Many other forms of the invention exist, each differing from others inmatters of detail only.

In some forms of the invention instead of a right angular flashlightthere could be a conventional straight line flashlight for use in therecharger. In other forms of the invention there could be other devices,for instance, vacuum units, pumps and motor devices which arerechargeable and not flashlights which can be used in the system. Therecharger can be used for a flashlight and a rechargeable device, or fortwo flashlights if the two slots are suitably profiled. The system canuse multiple rechargers and the ribbed side walls of the housing of eachof the rechargers can be constructed so that they can accommodated nextto each other in a useful manner. This is illustrated in FIG. 20.

The invention is to be determined solely in terms of the claims set outbelow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flashlight comprising: a battery housing havinga first opening at a distal end; a lamp bulb; an electric connectionbetween the battery housing, and the lamp bulb; a battery pack forclosing the opening of the battery housing, the battery pack including abase for the battery housing, the base being connected with arechargeable battery such that when the rechargeable batteries arelocated in position in the battery housing the battery housing isclosed, wherein the base of the battery housing includes contacts whichextend from a position on the battery pack inside the battery housing toa position on a base of the battery pack wherein the contacts on thebase extend outside of the battery pack such that, when the flashlightwith its battery pack in the battery housing is located on a rechargerfor the rechargeable batteries, there are contacts on the rechargerwhich electronically engage the contacts on the outside of the batterypack, and wherein the battery pack is correctly locatable in the housingwith the base of the battery pack alone being the closure to the distalend of the battery housing.
 2. A flashlight as claimed in claim 1including an aperture in the battery housing, the aperture being forreceiving an element connected with the battery pack, the element beingspring-loaded such that when the battery pack is correctly located inthe battery housing the element fits in the aperture and locks thebattery pack in position in the battery housing.
 3. A flashlight asclaimed in claim 2 wherein the element is a button element receptive inan aperture in the battery housing, the button element beingspring-loaded to fit in the aperture in the normal position and whereinfinger pushing action converse to a biasing from the spring actioncauses the battery pack to be released from its position in the batteryhousing.
 4. A flashlight as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lamp bulb islocated in a housing mounted to have a longitudinal axis at an anglerelative to the axial direction of the axis of the battery housing.
 5. Aflashlight as claimed in claim 4 wherein the longitudinal axis of theangle is substantially right-angular relative to the axis of the batteryhousing.
 6. A flashlight as claimed in claim 1 wherein the batteryhousing is substantially rectangular in cross section when viewed fromthe base, the rectangular cross-section being such that a depth of thehousing is about half a width of the housing.
 7. A flashlight as claimedin claim 6 wherein the rectangular cross-section has cut off or roundedcorners.
 8. A flashlight as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least portionof the battery housing includes a grip sleeve.
 9. A flashlight asclaimed in claim 8 including two separable grip sleeves, the two gripsleeves being located at opposite sides of the battery housing.
 10. Aflashlight as claimed in claim 1 wherein the battery housing includes anindentation located towards a base of the housing, the indentation beingfor mating engagement with a locking lip to locate the flashlight in arecharger device.
 11. A flashlight as claimed in claim 10 wherein theindentation extends substantially transversely across a face of the baseand is located relatively closely to the foot of the flashlight.
 12. Aflashlight as claimed in claim 11 wherein a recess for receiving abutton element on a battery pack is located on an opposite face of thebattery housing and is located preferably at a location relativelycloser to the top of the battery housing.
 13. A flashlight as claimed inclaim 12 wherein the recess is an aperture at the top of the batteryhousing is located substantially opposite to a larger aperture in thebattery housing, the larger aperture being for receiving a lensconfiguration.
 14. A rechargeable battery pack for a flashlight, thepack including batteries in relative side-by-side relationship, anextension from the batteries for permitting the batteries to beconnected in a battery housing in a releasable manner, first contactsfrom the batteries for permitting recharging of the batteries in arecharger, and the rechargeable battery pack being locatable in thebattery housing by interlocking elements biased into engagement andwherein the contacts extend outwardly from the battery housing to permitcontact with a recharger, and the flashlight comprising a batteryhousing having a first opening at a distal end, a lamp bulb, and anelectric connection between the battery housing and the lamp bulb, thebattery pack being for closing the opening of the battery housing, thebattery pack including a base for the battery housing, and the basebeing connected with a rechargeable battery such that when therechargeable batteries are located in position in the battery housingthe battery housing is closed, wherein the base of the battery housingincludes contacts which extend from a position on the battery packinside the battery housing to a position on a base of the battery rackwherein the contacts on the base extend outside of the battery pack suchthat, when the flashlight with its battery pack in the battery housingis located on a recharger for the rechargeable batteries, there arecontacts on the recharger which electronically engage the contacts onthe outside of the battery pack.
 15. A rechargeable battery pack asclaimed in claim 14 wherein the extension for permitting the releaseincludes electrical contacts for connecting a flashlight bulb of aflashlight electrically to the battery pack.
 16. A carrier for arechargeable battery pack, the carrier being for receiving arechargeable battery pack, the carrier being elongated to receive anelongated structure of the battery pack and to locate the elongatedstructure of the pack in a recharger in a manner to permit recharging,and wherein the carrier includes first and second ends, the first endbeing for normal operative location in a flashlight with the first endin adjacency to the area of the flashlight relatively closely adjacentto a bulb for the flashlight and the second end being for location at anend distal to the bulb location, and wherein in a first operative sense,when the carrier and rechargeable battery pack are charging in therecharger, the carrier is relatively reversed such that the first end isdirected in to direct contact with the recharger, and in a secondoperative sense, when the carrier is being recharged when located withthe flashlight, the second end is directed in to direct contact with therecharger.
 17. A carrier as claimed in claim 16 wherein the elongatedstructure of the carrier includes an indentation for permittingreleasable anchorage of the battery pack and a structure with a matingformation in a recharger for receiving the battery pack in a manner tofacilitate recharging.
 18. A carrier as claimed in claim 16 whereinthere are at least two batteries, the batteries being located preferablyin side by side relationship.
 19. A flashlight and a recharger device incombination, the flashlight comprising: a battery housing having a firstopening; a lamp bulb; an electric connection between the battery housingand the lamp bulb; a battery pack for closing the opening of the batteryhousing, the battery pack including a base for the battery housing, thebase being connected with a rechargeable battery such that when therechargeable batteries are located in position in the battery housing,the battery housing is closed; and the recharger device for the batterypack, comprising: a base; a first slot for the flashlight requiringrecharging; a second slot in adjacent relationship to the first slot,the second slot being for receiving a device for recharging; contacts inthe slots for contacting each of the respective flashlight and thedevice; and electrical means connected with the contacts to permit arecharging current to flow through the contacts to contacts on theoutside of the flashlight housing and to contacts on the device when theelectrical means is connected with an external power supply.
 20. Acombination as claimed in claim 19 wherein the recharger includes alocking member in at least one of the slots for locking a respectiveflashlight or device in their respective slots when the flashlight ordevice is located in the slot, the locking member being movable topermit release of the flashlight or device.
 21. A combination as claimedin claim 20 wherein both slots have respective locking members.
 22. Aflashlight and recharger combination, the flashlight comprising: abattery housing having a first opening, and the housing beingrectangular in cross-section such that a depth is about half of a widthto accommodate only two batteries in side-by-side relationship; a lampbulb; an electric connection between the battery housing and the lampbulb; a closure for the opening of the battery housing, the closurebeing in a tail cap mounted in the battery housing, the closure beingconnected with the two rechargeable batteries in series such that whenthe rechargeable batteries are located in position in the batteryhousing, the battery housing is closed; and the recharger device for abattery pack, comprising: a base; a first slot for the flashlightrequiring recharging; contacts in the slot for contacting theflashlight; electrical means connected with the contact to permit arecharging current to flow through the contacts to contacts on theoutside of the flashlight housing when the electrical means is connectedwith an external power supply; and a locking member in the slot forlocking the flashlight in the slot when the recharger device is locatedin the slot, the locking member being movable to permit release of therecharger device.